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identify play therapy training that mental health professionals can apply towards earning or renewing the Registered Play Therapist (RPT), Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor (RPT-S) or School Based-Registered Play Therapist (SB-RPT) credentials; and

ensure access by play therapists to quality play therapy training opportunities.

With the goal of improving the quality of APT-approved play therapy continuing education, our Approved Provider program has been revised. We encourage you to review the Approved Provider Criteria and Standards document (formerly the Approved Provider Guide) prior to submitting a new or renewal application.

Please note that, the new criteria and standards are effective as of March 1, 2019.

Types of Approved Providers

Type I – Provides unlimited play therapy continuing education/training at multiple events (in-person workshops, live webinars, recorded webinars, home study courses, etc.) and programs during an authorized approval period.

Type II– Provides play therapy training at one event that neither extends beyond five (5) consecutive days nor offers more than 25 hours of play therapy credit.

Notifications

Moratorium and Changes to the Registered Play Therapist (RPT) & Registered Play Therapist - Supervisor (RPT-S) Standards and Applications

APT announced a credentialing moratorium on April 1, 2019 that went into effect on July 1, 2019 through December 31, 2019. A new set of Standards and a new Application were made available May 31, 2019. Additional information on this announcement can be viewed here.

Effective January 1, 2020, hours earned toward the supervised play therapy experience and supervision requirements for the RPT and RPT-S applications must be under the supervision of an RPT-S only. Any supervised play therapy experience and supervision hours accrued prior to January 1, 2020 will be accepted provided they fall under the existing guidelines at time of attainment. Please refer to the Guide for further instruction. If you were conferred the RPT or RPT-S credential prior to January 1, 2020, this change will NOT affect you. APT dedicated a special section of its magazine to the 2020 changes and it can be viewed here.

Changes to the Definition of Contact & Non-Contact Hours for Continuing Education

Effective January 1, 2020, contact hours are defined as "in-person" instruction only. Live webinars, recorded webinars, book studies, etc. are defined as non-contact hours and are limited to 50 hours towards the APT credentialing application. APT dedicated a special section of its magazine to the 2020 changes and it can be viewed here.

Promote the value of play, play therapy, and credentialed play therapists and advance the psychosocial development and mental health of all people through play and play therapy by supporting those programs, services, and related activities that promote organizational growth, public awareness, research, and diversity in the field of play therapy.